Category Archives: Violence & Peace

I am not a fan of everything published in Philadelphia Weekly, but I do tend to pick it up on a weekly basis mainly for their excellent “Arts & Culture” Calendar. I’ve attended several cool events that I found in PW. Lately, I’ve been picking up PW for more than just making my weekend plans. This month their “News and Opinions” section has featured some good writing on justice issues in our city. While I’ve got my beefs with PW, I definitely have to give props to the publication for talking about these issues and for reporting on tragic and hopeful local developments. Also want to give props to the writers: F.H. Rubino, Tara Murtha, and Aaron Case. Keep up the good work!

Please pray for the peace of our city. If our city has as many violent crimes each month as we did in January, we will average out to about 1 murder a day, as we did a few years ago. Here’s a blurb from a Metro Philadelphia article I saw this morning:

As of Monday, the city’s official murder count was at 24, not including a woman and seven babies allegedly killed by abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, who was charged two weeks ago. That number represents the highest year-to-date total since 2007, when 31 people were slain in the first month. Rapes are also up 36 percent from a year ago…

Many of these crimes take place within a few miles from where we worship. Let’s ask ourselves what it looks like to be the church in a city that experiences so much violence? What are some practical ways that we can serve our neighbors and work for the peace of our city?

We heard Steve preach on the beatitudes this past Sunday. One of them is “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” How can we pursue this call in our neighborhoods? How does the gospel uniquely equip us to be peacemakers?

It would be great if some of you could offer ideas in the comments section…

Deeper Roots + Wider Branches

The idea is simple: As I pursue a deeper relationship with Christ, I pray that I will grow into a man who is deeply rooted in the gospel, and that the ever-widening implications of God's grace will propel me into a radical life of community and mission. The words found here (both mine and others) are my feeble attempt to be a catalyst and an encourager to brothers and sisters I know, and perhaps to some I have never met.